Browsing Tag

colostomy

Ostomy Awareness Day

Each year Ostomy Awareness Day offers an opportunity to raise awareness and educate people of the impact of living with a stoma - this year's event took place on 7th October. Everyone has their own stoma story, whether your stoma saved your…

Fitness gave me confidence after stoma surgery

After years of suffering uncontrolled Ulcerative Colitis, Dan Callaghan underwent stoma surgery in the hope of getting his health back on track. Exercise and fitness had always been a big part of Dan’s life and this wasn’t something he…

Stoma Complications

From time to time stoma patients may experience stoma problems. The majority of these issues are not serious and can be resolved relatively quickly by adjusting part of your routine, swapping to a new product or altering your diet slightly.…

What Is A Stoma?

A stoma is an opening on the abdomen that can be connected to either your digestive or urinary system to allow waste (urine or faeces) to be diverted out of your body. It looks like a small, pinkish, circular piece of flesh that is sewn to…

Meet our Stoma Nurses

Ever wondered what powers our Home Delivery Service? We put members first, which is why we have Stoma Nurses on hand at every turn. Meet the team here.

#StomaWeek

This week we’re talking ‘All Things Stoma’.  We’re always looking for ways in which we can support the community, and this week we have a few little surprises for you! You’ll have to join us on social media to find out exactly what we’re…

Crohn’s and Colitis Week

Student Film makers aim to raise awareness of invisible illnesses like inflammatory bowel disease this Crohn's and Colitis Week with empowering ostomy film.

What Is A Fistula & How Does It Affect Me

Fistulas are usually caused by injury or surgery, they may also form after an infection has led to severe inflammation. Inflammatory bowel conditions such as Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis are examples of conditions that lead to…

Muneeb Akhtar – My Crohn’s Disease Story

After months of suffering, Muneeb was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease in October 2016, aged 19 years old. Here, Muneeb talks to us about his Crohn’s journey so far and how he has coped with his condition.

Time 2 Talk Ostomy Support Group

Time 2 Talk Ostomy Support Group is a new group for those who want to meet others with an ostomy or bladder/ bowel disorder or seek advice on how to live your best life with your condition. Experts from all areas including nutrition,…

Your Guide To Misdiagnosis Of Bowel Conditions

Being diagnosed with a bowel condition is a life-changing experience, and most are simply relieved to have a diagnosis and a direction to follow for treatment. What if you’re several months or years down the line with treatment and aren’t…

The Role of a Stoma Nurse

What is a Stoma Nurse? A stoma nurse is a specialised role and will look after and advise patients with a colostomy, ileostomy or urostomy before and after surgery. This care may come from a Colorectal Nurse Specialist or a Stoma Nurse.…

How To Change A Stoma Bag

Changing your stoma bag may seem daunting at first but you will soon get used to the routine of it and over time you will find that a bag change will only take you a few minutes to complete.

Stoma Reversal

What is a stoma reversal? A stoma is formed by bringing a loop of bowel (from the colon to form a colostomy or from the small bowel to form an ileostomy) to the surface of the abdomen. A pouch is then worn over the top of the stoma to…

A Shelf and A Hook

Natalie Toper, Cancer Counsellor and bowel cancer survivor is campaigning to get stoma signs placed on disabled toilet doors and appropriate stoma facilities within. Here Natalie describes how her own personal experiences have driven her to…

Travelling With A Stoma

Having a stoma shouldn’t limit your ability to travel in the UK or abroad. It may just take a little more forward planning. The Colostomy Association have developed a useful guide on travelling with a stoma. Here are our top tips. Make…

Stoma Irrigation

Irrigation is a system of bowel management for a colostomy in which you ‘wash’ the bowel to encourage a bowel movement. Over time your bowel will adopt this regular habit, and you should not produce waste in between irrigation sessions.…

Diet And Exercise With A Stoma

If you have a stoma it may help to adjust your diet and exercise routine. Learn about stoma diet, and how being an ‘active ostomate’ can help you.

Stoma Skincare

Looking after your peristomal skin (the ring of your skin that sits under your bag) is a vital part of your stoma care routine. It is important to avoid faeces or urine from coming into contact with your skin otherwise this can cause sore…

Stoma Care Products

There are many different stoma care products for you to choose from. Your stoma nurse will probably help you choose one in the beginning. You may like to try some different pouches to see which type you find the most comfortable and most…

What To Expect After Your Stoma Surgery

Straight after your stoma operation What will my stoma look like? Don’t be alarmed by the size of your stoma for the first few weeks after surgery. Your abdomen and your stoma will both be quite swollen and your stoma may also ooze…

What To Expect Before Your Stoma Surgery

Your Preoperative Assessment Depending on your hospital you will probably be offered a pre-op assessment a few days/ weeks prior to your stoma surgery. This assessment will involve a meeting with your surgeon to discuss any last minute…

My journey back to wholeness after stage 4 cancer

In January 2016, Fi Munro was diagnosed with Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer. At the time of her diagnosis Fi was told her cancer was inoperable and terminal. Refusing to accept her prognosis, Fi dedicated her time to researching her condition and…

Hirschsprung’s Disease Treatment

The only treatment for Hirschsprung’s is surgery. All children will have to undergo a procedure at some stage to connect the healthy portion of bowel to their anus in order to allow them to pass bowel motions normally. Initially, the…

Hirschsprung’s Disease

Hirschsprung’s Disease is a rare congenital disorder that affects the large bowel (colon), which causes severe constipation and/ or bowel obstruction. This disease affects one in 5,000 babies born. In Hirschsprung’s Disease, the ganglion…

FREE RADAR Key With Home Delivery Service

The RADAR key provides you with access to over 9,000 accessible public facilities around the UK. They can be found in many shopping centres, pubs, cafes, cinemas, bus and rail stations.

Meet Ostomy Underwear Designer Jasmine Stacey

At Bladder & Bowel we love to talk to the amazing people in our community who in their work life, or their free time, are doing something to help others. We recently caught up with Bournemouth based fashion designer, Jasmine Stacey, who…

Colostomy Surgery

What is a Colostomy? A colostomy is created when your colon is cut and brought to the outside through the abdominal wall to create an artificial opening. Your faeces is then collected in a bag called a colostomy bag that is attached to…